The report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ranked the UK at a lowly 14th out of 26 developed nations for the percentage of its school leavers who went on to gain a degree in 2007.
Responding to today’s report, National Union of Students (NUS) President Wes Streeting said:
“In spite of the successful expansion of higher education during the past decade, further expansion is required for the long-term social and economic good of the country. In light of this report, the Government's restriction on student numbers looks even more short-sighted. We understand the pressures on public finances, but the Government would do well to seek savings in other areas of public expenditure rather than rationing educational opportunity. Ahead of next year's general election we call on all political parties to match their rhetoric on widening participation and investing in education with firm spending commitments.”
The report also found that the UK has nearly four times as many young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) as France, and nearly twice as many as the US.
Wes Streeting added “We are in danger of condemning an entire generation of young people to long-term unemployment, bringing serious long term damage to their life chances and opportunities. The Government should look urgently with further education providers at what measures could be funded and put in place to ensure that every unemployed young person can take up an education or training place rather than experiencing the soul destroying experience of desperation, hopelessness and a diet of day time television."
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